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definitions

willpower

or will pow·er

[wil-poh-er]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR willpower ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

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RELATED WORDS

grit, firmness, self-control, self-discipline, discipline, strength, force, drive, self-restraint, will, resolve, resolution, self-government, fixity

Origin of willpower

First recorded in 1870–75; will2 + power
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for willpower

Contemporary Examples of willpower

Historical Examples of willpower

  • His brother Laurence—wasted—all through women—atrophy of willpower!

    Five Tales

    John Galsworthy

  • I'm afraid you pride yourselves on a degree of willpower you never exercised.

    Moral

    Ludwig Thoma

  • The willpower is firm, and is combined with enterprise and perseverance.

  • Every possible care should be given to the development of the willpower of these children.

  • Even as a boy, he had a purpose, and willpower enough to carry it out.

    Modern Americans

    Chester Sanford

British Dictionary definitions for willpower

willpower

noun

the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions
firmness of will
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for willpower
n.

also will power, 1874, from will (n.) + power (n.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper